Japan to give $8.7m to AU mission in Darfur + $10m in medical support

The Japanese government on May 16 decided to provide about 8.7 million USD in emergency grant aid to support the activities of the AU aimed at resolving the Darfur conflict in western Sudan, Viet Nam News Agency reported May 17, 2006:

The money will cover costs arising from the activities of the African Union Mission in Sudan such as publicity efforts, humanitarian assistance and peace negotiations, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

It will also support the work of the Darfur integration task force set up within the African Union to oversee the conflict, which erupted in 2003, and to support the mission's activities, according to Japan's Kyodo News.

May 16 2006 Sudan Tribune unsourced article from Tokyo: Japan donates $8,7 mln to AU force in Darfur: The aid, decided by the Cabinet on Tuesday morning, is the first specific step in Japan's contributions to help resolve the conflict, which Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi announced during his trip to Africa from late April to early May. Koizumi unveiled the Japanese government's plan to contribute about $8.7 million to support activities aimed at resolving the conflict and about $10 million in medical support.